【Russian MP on Use of Nuclear Weapons: "If We Really Need to Fight, We Will!"】 On the sensitive issue of whether Russia might resort to nuclear weapons amid escalating clashes between Ukraine and Russia, Aleksey Zhuravlyov, First Deputy Chairman of the Defense Committee of the Russian State Duma, made a tough statement on August 30:
"If we need to fight, we will. There's nothing to discuss about that."
He said there was no need for external parties to repeatedly debate whether Russia "can use tactical nuclear weapons." According to him, if circumstances demand it, Russia "must use" them.
Why has the topic of nuclear weapons suddenly come to the forefront?
Zhuravlyov’s remarks should be understood against the backdrop of ongoing Russian military advances and the continuous escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He argued that previous approaches of "limited strikes" are no longer sufficient; stronger, more forceful actions are necessary to completely eliminate the opponent’s will to resist.
Even more noteworthy is a previous claim by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service that the UK and France are considering supplying components needed for Ukraine to develop nuclear weapons. The Kremlin appears to be using this to emphasize: if Ukraine were to acquire any form of nuclear capability in the future, Russia would not stand idly by.
Certainly, these claims currently come primarily from Russian sources, and their accuracy still requires verification through independent evidence.
But one thing is clear: the "nuclear dimension" of the Russia-Ukraine conflict is being brought into the spotlight again and again.
From "can we use it?" to "we must use it when necessary," the language itself is growing increasingly aggressive.
As the war drags on, what's truly worrying isn't just a single hardline comment from a parliamentarian—it's the increasing risk of miscalculation, escalation, and loss of control as both sides continuously raise the stakes of confrontation.
Once nuclear weapons shift from mere deterrents to actual options, the consequences go far beyond a simple question of "whether or not to strike."
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1874955578581003/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.